Pen Review Revisited: Pelikan M101N Grey-Blue Fountain Pen

December 7, 2019

I don’t revisit reviews of specific pens very often. There are so many new releases that it’s tempting to keep plowing forward and chasing the next hot thing, even though its often equally valuable to reconsider previous opinions and see whether additional experience and changing preferences lead me to different conclusions. I need to do the latter more often, and the Pelikan M101N is a case in point.

You may recall reading my review of the Pelikan M101N “Bright Red” from June 2017. At the time, the pen didn’t speak to me, and I passed on acquiring one despite the fact that it had a lot to offer: design inspired by vintage Pelikan pens from the 1930s, Pelikan’s famed workhorse piston filling system, a gorgeous (and practical) ink window, and a 14k gold nib. I thought that the size was what held me back, but after a lot of reflection, and having the opportunity to handle other editions of the Pelikan M101N, I think it was simply because the “Bright Red” version wasn’t to my taste.

The Pelikan M101N ships with a 60ml bottle of Pelikan Royal Blue ink, complete with vintage-style label. Pelikan Royal Blue is an excellent ink for everyday writing.

I can’t say the same, however, about this year’s Pelikan M101N “Grey-Blue.” As I’ve said before, the promotional photos of this pen don’t do it justice, and it’s one that you have to see in person before making a decision on it. Not to harp on the benefits of attending pen shows, but if I hadn’t had the chance to pick up this pen at a show, I never would have considered it. The stock pics make the grey-blue material look flat, almost like the generic acrylics found in kit pens, but in person it has the same vintage-style depth as other Pelikan materials. I much prefer the palladium trim to gold.

Pelikan Nibs and the Overall Writing Experience

For the most part, the Pelikan M101N offers an excellent writing experience. It’s an extremely lightweight pen for a piston filler, and after having the chance to use the pen for a more extended period of time, I’ve come to appreciate its size. Unposted, the M101N is still a bit short for anything other than quick notes, but the posted length works perfectly well for me. Fans of the Pelikan M400 Souveran should give this pen a try, though those that find the M400 too slim will probably feel the same way about the M101N.

The nib on the M101N features “Pelikan” engraved in vintage-style script, with no logo.

If there’s one thing that’s kept me from going all-in on Pelikan over the years, it’s the nibs. I don’t dislike Pelikan nibs, but I’ve always considered them a bit “blobbish,” for lack of a better term. When I say that, I mean that Pelikan nibs contain a lot of tipping material - especially the gold nibs - which not only makes them run wider than their stated nib designation but also creates a rounded line with little line variation unless you go with a stock italic or have the nib ground. (The upside to Pelikan using a lot of tipping material is that it gives nib grinders a lot to work with, making them easier to modify, or so I’ve been told.) In my experience, Pelikan nibs write very wet and can pour a lot of ink onto the page, which amplifies the effects of the tipping. I assume Pelikan does this to achieve maximum “smoothness,” which is what luxury penmakers seem to be going for these days, and to Pelikan’s credit, they manage to do this without their nibs being plagued by skipping and babies’ bottoms from overpolishing (unlike another high-end German pen company).

Still not exactly a true “extra fine” nib, but this one writes closer to its true designation out of the box than some Pelikan nibs in my collection.

I’ve generally had better luck with Pelikan stainless steel nibs, such as those on the M120 and the M20X series, and the 14k nib on the M101N, out of the box, feels closer to that writing experience than the nib on my larger Souveran pens, such as the M400, M600, and M800, most of which I’ve had modified. I still wish that the nib on this M101N wrote a finer line for an EF, but it’s still usable for my Jibun Techo planner when paired with an appropriate ink (here, the Pelikan Royal Blue included with the M101N, complete with historical bottle).

After much consideration, the M101N posted isn’t too long. It’s actually a good length for me.

Unposted, however, the Pelikan M101N is too short for anything other than the quickest of notes.

The Pelikan sizing scale, from left: M101N, M120 Iconic Blue, M400, M600, and M800. I don’t yet have a m1000. (But maybe soon?)

Takeaways and Where to Buy

The Pelikan M101N Grey-Blue will stay in my collection for the foreseeable future. It’s compact size when capped and light weight make it an excellent choice for a shirt pocket pen, and this one has seen a lot of use at the office over the past month.

Currently, site sponsor Appelboom has a couple Grey-Blue pens in stock in the extra fine and fine nib sizes. I purchased the pen pictured here from sponsor Pen Chalet during their Fountain Pen Day clearance sale, but their prices were so good that the pen sold out quickly. Barring a clearance sale, you can find the Pelikan M101N in Grey-Blue for between $480-550, though some retailers have offered flash sales with the pen priced below the $400 mark (which is crazy and absolutely makes the pen worth it). The M101N is an expensive pen, but sits towards the lower-end of Pelikan’s special and limited edition pricing scale for gold-nib pens.

If you think the M101N Grey-Blue might interest you, I wouldn’t wait to pick one up, as the pen is already getting harder to find. Since Pelikan releases the M101N only in special edition colors, there is no “standard” version available for purchase at any given time. Pelikan typically announces the annual M101N release during the first part of the year, and stock usually lingers through Christmas, with some editions remaining available for purchase for a year or so afterward. It doesn’t look like that will be the case with the Grey-Blue, however.

Disclaimer: I purchased this pen from site sponsor Pen Chalet using affiliate credit generated through the Pen Chalet affiliate program, which is one way I support the blog and acquire products for review. This post contains affiliate links.

Back to Basics: Blue Ink for Everday Writing

November 27, 2019

Ten years ago, I never would have imagined the size and scope of today’s stationery marketplace, much less the depth of the community surrounding it. Indeed, there were times when I was convinced I had picked a hobby that wouldn’t even exist in ten years, much less have expanded so much. While this is mostly a good thing - and a topic I plan to explore in depth in future posts - I sometimes find myself experiencing a sense of overwhelm and paralysis-by-choice. There are simply so many different brands and models of pens, inks, pencils, and paper out there that I can only imagine how confusing it must be to someone diving in for the first time, especially when it comes to fountain pens and fountain pen ink.

In all of our enthusiasm for chasing the next hot thing, I don’t want people to lose sight of the fact that you can always go back to the basics and still have a great experience. When you just want to enjoy a long writing session with a new pen or an old favorite, sometimes the best thing you can do is stop worrying about which ink would make the “perfect pairing,” ditch chasing “shimmer” and “sheen,” and ink up a basic blue or black ink. A few weeks ago I wrote about how I’ve grown to appreciate Lamy’s standard Black and Blue-Black offerings. Not only have I continued to use those two warhorses, but I’ve reached back into my ink cabinet and pulled out a few more favorites, namely some basic blue inks.

Waterman Serenity Blue

My number one work-friendly ink of all time, Waterman “Serenity Blue” (formerly “Florida Blue”) might be the best all-around fountain pen ink ever made. That’s a pretty big claim, but it’s not hard to support. Waterman ink (1) can be found at $12 or less per bottle at retail; (2) is widely regarded as one of the safest fountain pen inks available for use in vintage pens and materials prone to staining, like celluloid; and (3) works well on nearly all types of paper, making it a versatile ink suitable for pretty much any use case. Waterman ink bottles are also extremely functional: the faceted design lets you tilt the bottle for easier filling once the ink level gets low.

Pelikan 4001 Royal Blue

Slightly darker than Waterman Serenity Blue, Pelikan 4001 Royal Blue has its own group of devotees, some of whom love this ink so much that Pelikan sells it in massive 1 liter bottles (though recently I’ve currently only been able to find this size available in Pelikan Brilliant Black in the U.S.). While I personally prefer Waterman’s brighter tone, Pelikan Royal Blue likewise performs well on most papers and is a “safe” ink to use in nearly all pens. Pelikan inks come in a wider variety of bottle sizes than Waterman, with a few more reasonable options than the liter jug: around $11 for a 30ml bottle, or $14 for a 62.5ml bottle. The “historic” bottle of Royal Blue (same ink, different packaging) is priced at $12 for 60ml.

Lamy Blue

Finally, the last of the three basic blue inks that I use on a regular basis is standard Lamy Blue. If you’ve purchased a Lamy cartridge-converter pen, you have a sample of this ink on hand, since Lamy includes a blue cartridge with every pen sold. Though I still use it fairly regularly - mainly for the convenience of cartridge form - Lamy Blue is my least favorite of the three inks discussed here. It’s less vibrant than both Waterman Serenity Blue and Pelikan Royal Blue, with a tendency to take on a washed-out tone and fade after the ink dries. What this ink does have going for it is Lamy’s excellent ink bottle (complete with blotting paper) as well as the fact that it’s erasable using one of Lamy’s Ink Eraser Pens.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

You can’t go wrong with any of these three blue inks, all of which are inexpensive, reliable, and widely available. While nothing is certain, you probably don’t have to worry about getting attached to any of these three inks, only to have the formulation change or the ink disappear from the market. Waterman, Pelikan, and Lamy inks have all been around forever and I haven’t seen any signs that is about to change.

The one drawback is impermanence: none of these inks are waterproof, so if you’re looking for that you should go elsewhere (Pilot Blue-Black is an exceptional ink with decent water resistance, also available in large quantities).

You can purchase these three inks from nearly all major pen retailers, including site sponsors Pen Chalet and Vanness Pens.

Disclaimer: This post contains links to paid sponsors and affiliates. I believe that I purchased the inks featured in this review with my own funds, for my own use, though it’s possible I used store credit generated through affiliate programs in which I participate. I’ve gone through multiple bottles of Waterman Blue over the years so I can’t be sure.

Debate Reopened? The Pelikan M400 and the Perfect Pelikan Size

January 19, 2019

Back when I first reviewed pens from Pelikan’s flagship Souveran collection, I only had one: the M600, which is the “mid-size” model and what I had expected would be a great size for me. I wasn’t wrong. I love the M600, and have long expressed a desire for Pelikan to do more with that model in terms of special and limited releases. This past year we M600 fans got our wish, with a special edition “Brilliant Orange” M600, though not everyone’s a fan of the color. I’m still on the fence, leaning towards passing on Brilliant Orange and waiting to see what, if anything, Pelikan has in store for 2019. But I digress.

The Pelikan Souveran M400 (left) compared to the M600 (center) and the M800 (right)

As it turns out, I’m no longer sure that the M600 takes first prize among the Pelikan lineup for me. More and more, I find myself turning not to the larger M800 (as many Pelikan fans do), but to the smaller M400. This isn’t about price, though as I’ll discuss below, the M400 sits at a fairly attractive price point once you take into account all the features. No, it’s mainly about portability. For an everyday workhorse, I like a pen that sits comfortably in a shirt pocket. As a lighter-weight pen, the M400 doesn’t pull the pocket forward as much as its bigger cousins, probably due to the use of a lighter piston mechanism.

The brown tortoise acetate that Pelikan uses as the binde on its pen barrels is one of my favorite pen making materials ever. If only they would leave it in the lineup! Also, as with the M800 Burnt Orange, the acrylic used for the cap, section, and … — The brown tortoise acetate that Pelikan uses as the binde on its pen barrels is one of my favorite pen making materials ever. If only they would leave it in the lineup! Also, as with the M800 Burnt Orange, the acrylic used for the cap, section, and blind cap is actually a very dark brown, though it appears black in most photos.

Even though it’s one of the smallest pens in Pelikan’s current lineup, I don’t necessarily consider the M400 to be “small.” Taken in its historical context, the M400 is approximately the same size as many - if not most - vintage Pelikan’s, as well as many other vintage pens of the same era such as the standard Esterbrook J. I can comfortably use the M400 (as well as the M200 and the M120) for very long writing sessions without any discomfort, and the M400 has excellent balance when posted.

Another advantage to the M400 size is that the nibs can be swapped with most similarly sized vintage Pelikan pens. In my review of the Pelikan M120, I discussed how I was able to take an oblique medium nib from a vintage Pelikan and swap it into a modern one. Guess what? That vintage nib fits into both the M120 AND the M400. I plan to spend my pen show time this year hunting more vintage Pelikan nibs in this size.

Pelikan nibs are among my favorite in terms of decorative scrollwork and brand logo.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

As I mentioned above, while the Pelikan M400 certainly doesn’t come at a bargain price, I do consider it good value. For around $300 (and even less with the occasional coupon code), you get a reliable Pelikan piston filler with what is, for the most part, an excellent 14k gold nib right out of the box. Over the years, quality control on Pelikan nibs has ebbed and flowed, but recently I’ve had nothing but good luck. The fine nib on the M400 writes more like a traditional medium, but it’s smooth and the ink flow is perfect with no tendency to skip or hard start. The M800 I purchased recently also had a great out-of-the-box nib, though it was a medium that wrote more like a broad. I generally advise people considering Pelikan pens to purchase one nib size smaller than what they normally write with. If you only like extra fine or needlepoint nibs, you will almost certainly be looking at having someone grind the nib down for you, as gold nib extra-fines from Pelikan write more on the fat side of a traditional “western fine,” in my experience.

I purchased the Pelikan M400 in Brown Tortoise pictured in this review from Pen Chalet, but unfortunately that pen has now been discontinued. Pen Chalet does, however, carry the standard M400 (gold trim) and M405 (Rhodium Trim), both priced between $300-315, and you can get that down even further using one of the coupon codes floating around out there. The M405 Stresemann costs a bit more at $380, and I don’t know whether or not Pelikan considers this pen to be a special edition like the Brown Tortoise. If so, it may also be susceptible to being phased out in the future, though I hope not.

If you have your heart set on the M400 in Brown Tortoise, shop around and act quickly if you locate one. Currently, site sponsor Goldspot has a few in stock, and there are also various Amazon sellers that still have the pen. Again, don’t wait, because whenever Pelikan discontinues one of their pens in brown tortoise (i.e, the M800 and previous M400 versions) they quickly become hot commodities on the secondary market. Of course, Pelikan tends to bring them back every few years, but there’s no guarantee they’ll continue to do that, and no telling when.

Disclaimer: This post contains links to paid sponsors and affiliates.

Pen Review: Pelikan M120

December 12, 2018

Pelikan reintroduced its “iconic” M120 fountain pen a couple of years ago, in a green and black color scheme reminiscent of the original M120 school pens that the company manufactured in the 1950s and 1960s. The original pens are still fairly common finds at pen shows, so when Pelikan re-released the M120 I immediately recognized the design. At the time, I took a pass. Only when Pelikan released the “Iconic Blue” special edition, and I had the opportunity to write with one of the excellent EF nibs during my visit with the Big Apple Pen Club last month, did the M120 recapture my attention.

The Pelikan M120 isn’t a flashy pen - it’s designed to be a workhorse. The body features a classic cigar or torpedo shape, unlike Pelikan’s typical flat-ended pens like the M2XX series or the higher-end Souveran pens in the M4XX-M1XXX series. The M120 does sport the same classic “bill” clip as Pelikan’s other pens, along with - in my favorite touch - a tinted ink window that matches the overall color scheme of the pen: blue for the “Iconic Blue” M120; green for the green-black version. Posted or capped, the pen is just a touch longer than the M205 and the M400. Unposted, all three pens are the same size.

You get some extra scrolling/decor on the M120 gold-plated stainless nib. Check out the blue-tinted ink window.

The M120 comes equipped with a gold-plated stainless steel nib, an excellent writer that I might prefer to Pelikan’s gold nibs, at least in the finer tip sizes. I ordered both pens with EF nibs, and was pleasantly surprised with (1) how well both of them wrote out of the box with no modification and (2) how Pelikan’s stainless EF wrote what I consider to be a “true Western EF” line. Don’t go expecting Sailor or Pilot extra-fine, but it’s not like Pelikan’s gold EF nib, which writes like what I’d consider a medium.

Perhaps my favorite aspect of the M120 (as well as the M200 and M400 series): The ability to swap in vintage nibs like this OM (oblique medium) that I picked up at the DC Pen Show a few years back.

Pelikan has taken some flack for the price point of the M120. Currently, the standard M120 in green and black is priced at $265 MSRP with a street price of around $212, reflecting exactly a 20% discount from the MSRP. Storewide coupon codes can get that price below the $200 mark, but it’s still an expensive purchase and certainly at the higher end of the spectrum for a pen with a steel nib. Curiously, the special edition “Iconic Blue” version of the M120 has an MSRP of $235, with a street price of around $188. To me, that $30 makes a big difference in affordability (or the perception of affordability), as many people hesitate to go above the $200 price point (or even the $165 price point) for a pen with a steel nib.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

I love the M120, and while I’m a fan of Pelikan Pens in general, I think I appreciate this pen even more as a well-executed, faithful reproduction of a classic. At the end of the day, the price doesn’t even bother me all that much. While I’d like to see this pen consistently priced in the $150-165 range, I can’t say that the M120 isn’t worth the current asking price. It’s a Pelikan - the piston filling mechanism is reliable and the nibs are excellent. Moreover, if you’re a collector of vintage Pelikan pens or have a pen from the M400 series in your collection, those nibs are interchangeable with the modern M120, so this is a great way to use vintage nibs (like the oblique medium featured here) in a modern pen body that may better withstand daily use.

I acquired both of the Pelikan M120 pens pictured in this review from site sponsor Pen Chalet. Both the Iconic Blue and Green-Black models are still in stock, and have been for a while, though the Iconic Blue is classified as a “special edition,” which typically indicates that Pelikan sells the pen for about a year or so before retiring it. What remains to be seen is whether the M120 becomes a standard model in the Pelikan lineup, with new special editions coming out each year like the M200, or maybe somewhat less frequently like the M101N.

Disclaimer: I acquired both pens featured in this review from Pen Chalet using store credit earned through their affiliate program. This post contains affiliate links.

A comparison shot of (from left) the Pelikan M120 Green-Black; the M120 Iconic Blue; the M205 Olivine; and the M400 Brown Tortoise.

This year's Pelikan Hubs Swag: a bottle of the Edelstein "Ink of the Year," Smoky Quartz.

Pelikan Hubs 2017 Is a Hit!

September 23, 2017

The annual Pelikan Hubs event continues to gain steam, and this year's Nashville Hub was no exception. Fountain-pen obsessed Nashvillians all gathered at the excellent Coco's Italian Market for some beer, wine, Italian food, and of course pens. It turned out to be a larger group than last year, with participants traveling from out-of-state (Alabama and Kentucky) to participate. Swag included a bottle of Pelikan's Edelstein Ink of the Year, "Smoky Quartz" and a (very) large Pelikan banner, which we'll put to good use at a future pen club meetup since we were already testing the crowded restaurant's patience with the size of our group.

Pelikan started the Hubs as a way for their fans to meet one night each year in cities around the world for an evening of socializing and sharing pens. In order to qualify for a Hub in a particular city, at least five people need to express interest by signing up with Pelikan, with one person volunteering to act as the "Hub-master" (the person who makes the restaurant/event space reservation and has the box of Pelikan swag sent to them).

To learn more about Pelikan Hubs, and to be sure that you all get on the list for next year's event (or even start one in your city), be sure and visit Pelikan's "Hub Page." You can also check Instagram and Twitter for pictures of this year's Hubs events using the hashtag #pelikanhubs2017. Pelikan Hubs have served as a starting point for pen groups and clubs around the world, so if you're in the Nashville area, and want to stay in touch and participate in pen-related gatherings throughout the year, please feel free to reach out to me at joe (at) gentlemanstationer.com, or through the "Contact Me" portal on the blog.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links.